Digital Cameras: Listed By Megapixel

(Dave here:) In the
earlier days of the digital camera revolution, resolution
(megapixels) was a much more important specification than it is now.
This was because the low resolution of early models limited the size
prints you could make. You could make an acceptable 8x10 inch print
from a 2-megapixel camera's files, but three megapixels would produce
a sharper-looking print. Four- and five-megapixel cameras let you
crop the images somewhat and still have enough resolution left to
make a decent 8x10.

These days (this is being written in mid-2007),
it's hard to find a digital camera with fewer than 6 megapixels, and
some consumer models have sensors as large as 12 (!)
megapixels, and I've no doubt we'll see even higher resolutions in
the years to come. If 3-megapixel cameras could make good-looking
8x10 inch prints, is there really any advantage to 12-megapixel
models?

Good question. The short answer is that there
really isn't any advantage to having 12 megapixels in your consumer
digicam, and the itty-bitty pixels that result actually hurt matters
somewhat when it comes to image noise. Image noise and high ISO (high
light sensitivity settings) are a whole other topic, more than we can
go into in this short note, but suffice to say that cramming more
pixels on the same size chip adds little in the way of usable
resolution, and makes it harder to get clean-looking images when
shooting under dim lighting.

The one thing that can be said about higher
megapixel numbers on cameras is that, within a given model
line, you'll tend to find more advanced capabilities and snazzy
features on the higher-end models, which generally also sport the
higher-resolution sensors. So higher megapixel ratings are a possible
indicator of more feature-rich cameras. That said though, a better
indicator of whether a camera is high- or low-end is simply the
selling price. (Of course, when looking at models from different
manufacturers or even from different lines by the same manufacturer,
neither megapixels nor price are likely to give much idea of how the
comparative features stack up.) Most readers will be best served by
simply comparing models that fit within their budget, looking for the
features they're interested in, and then using our reviews and sample
pictures to pick out the ones that perform the best and take the
best-looking photos.

Given all the above, rather than trying to explain
the practical differences between different megapixel ratings as it
once did, this page now simply lists megapixel ranges (see above and
below) that are currently in the market, for those readers still
interested in this distinction. Because they really belong in a class
by themselves, we've listed digital SLRs on a separate page of their
own, regardless of resolution rating. (See our article Digicam or SLR? for a good overview
of the differences between the two types of cameras, and the pros and
cons of each.)